Sri Lanka
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- presidential republic
- CONSTITUTION
- August 16, 1978, amended in December 2001
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- a combination of common law, Roman-Germanic law, Kandyan systems, and Jaffna Tamil law
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- unicameral, Parliament
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Court and Court of Appeal (judges appointed by the President)
RELIGIONS
69.1% Buddhists, 7.6% Muslims, 15% Hindus, 8% Christians, 10% unspecified
From the country
JULY 31, 2026Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: TWO EX OFFICIALS SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER 2019 EASTER BOMBINGS
FEBRUARY 18, 2026Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: 817 INDIVIDUALS SENTENCED TO DEATH CURRENTLY HELD IN PRISONS
The Ministry of Justice and National Integration announced that a total of 817 individuals, both local and foreign, sentenced to death are currently imprisoned across the country, Ada Derana reported on February 16, 2026.
FEBRUARY 11, 2026Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: 12 SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER EX-MP AMARAKEERTHI ATHUKORALA’S MURDER
Twelve individuals, who were found guilty over the murder of former Polonnaruwa District Member of Parliament Amarakeerthi Athukorala and his security officer in 2022, were sentenced to death on February 11, 2026.
NOVEMBER 26, 2025Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: TEN SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER MURDER IN EMBILIPITIYA
The Embilipitiya High Court on November 24, 2025 sentenced ten people to death over the killing of a man in the Mullagasaya area in 2011.
- NOVEMBER 11, 2025Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: SIX SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER DOUBLE MURDER IN AMPARA
The Ampara High Court on November 10, 2025 sentenced six individuals to death in connection with a murder that took place on April 14, 2015.
OCTOBER 25, 2025Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: OVER 800 PERSONS ON DEATH ROW
A total of 826 individuals are on death row at present (October 2025), Commissioner of Prisons and Media Spokesman Jagath Weerasinghe stated.
SEPTEMBER 7, 2025Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR POSSESSING AND TRAFFICKING HEROIN
Colombo High Court Judge R.S.S. Sapuwidha on September 4, 2025 sentenced a 52-year-old married woman to death after finding her guilty of possessing and trafficking 41.65 grams of heroin.
- AUGUST 21, 2025Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: THREE-WHEELER DRIVER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING MAN IN KELANIYA
A 43-year-old three-wheeler driver was sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court on August 21, 2025, after being found guilty of stabbing and killing a person with a sharp weapon following an argument.
JULY 21, 2025Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: DEATH SENTENCE OVERTURNED FOR 80-YEAR-OLD WOMAN IN 1993 MURDER
An 80-year-old woman who had been sentenced to death in Sri Lanka by the Hambantota High Court for a 1993 murder was acquitted and released by the Court of Appeal on July 18, 2025 bringing an end to a 32-year legal battle.
APRIL 30, 2025Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: FIVE SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER 2012 YOUTH MURDER IN COLOMBO
The Colombo High Court on April 28, 2025 imposed the death penalty on five individuals for the brutal killing of a 21-year-old youth adjacent to a temple in Mattakkuliya in 2012.
- APRIL 28, 2025Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING WOMAN, HIDING BODY IN TRAVEL BAG
The Colombo High Court on April 24, 2025 sentenced a man to death for the murder of a woman whose body was found concealed in a travel bag—an incident that sent shockwaves across the country back in 2015.
- APRIL 3, 2025Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: PERSON SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER HEROIN POSSESSION
The Colombo High Court on April 3, 2025 sentenced to death a person who was found guilty of being in the possession of over 16 grams of heroin and drug trafficking.